Floor Statements

Madam President, I rise today to talk about the importance of March 15, which for the first time has been designated ``International Long COVID Awareness Day.''

This is a topic of importance to millions of Americans who deal with long COVID every day and tens of millions of people around the world who are dealing with long COVID, from mild symptoms to symptoms that are so debilitating that they are unable to work.

There is still an awful lot to learn about the condition, but what we do know is that long COVID is comprised of ongoing health problems that people experience after being infected with COVID-19. For some, long COVID can last weeks or months. For others, like me, long COVID has now lasted for 3 years.

Long COVID symptoms can vary. Some people experience general symptoms like fatigue, neurological symptoms like headache or difficulty concentrating, digestive problems, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and other neurological conditions.

The prevalence of long COVID is a best estimate, but the recent survey by the Census Bureau, in partnership with the National Center for Health Statistics, shows that about 5.8 percent of Americans have long COVID, and that amounts to about 11 percent of Americans who have had COVID who continue to experience long COVID symptoms.

I am on my own long COVID journey. My symptoms are mild, but they have been continuous for 3 years. When we were working in the Capitol in March of 2020 at the very beginning of COVID, most of us had dispatched our staffs and sent them home. So I was working in my office together just with my chief of staff. It was kind of a lonely time, as those of us who were here remember, but we were working hard. We were working hard to pass the first COVID relief bill, the CARES Act, and we did good work, in a bipartisan way, to provide relief to individuals and our businesses and hospitals and universities and schools in those early days.

I noticed one day that my nerve endings turned on like a light switch was flicked, and all of them started to tingle like my skin had been dipped in an Alka-Seltzer--24/7, every nerve ending in my body. It has not gone away in 3 years.

I had a mild case of COVID. I never had respiratory problems. I never had fatigue. Within a few days after getting this, I was fine except for the nerve tingling, and I assumed because of the pollen on my car that it was hay fever gone wild. Other symptoms were more like allergic symptoms--pinkeye and skin rashes.

That all went away, but when I went home, I gave COVID to my wife-- just one more thing for a husband to feel guilty about. She got the standard case of COVID, and that is what made us realize that that is what I had. We both had mild cases. Within a very few days, we were up and at `em and feeling great, but this nerve tingling sensation has never gone away.

I kept waiting, thinking next week it will go away or next month it will go away, but after 6 months, I finally decided I should see a neurologist. I went

to George Washington and did fine on neurological tests, but the neurologist told me: Look, viruses can have a neurological aftereffect. The good news is, it is probably not going to get worse. The bad news is, it may not get better.

The doctor was perfectly right on both counts. It has never gotten worse, and it has never gotten better. It is not painful. It is not debilitating. I can work. I can exercise. I can focus. It is harder to sleep--that would be the only area where it is affecting my life. But it is eerie that, after 3 years, it hasn't changed.

My wife said: Well, but then doesn't that mean you just get used to it and you don't notice it?

No. It is just a little too intense. I notice it all the time, everywhere.

Well, the good news is, my symptoms are mild and I can continue to work, but as I have shared my story, what I have found is many come and share their stories with me, including people here around the Capitol. They share their own long COVID stories, and many are very, very troubling: The marathon runner who can't walk around the block. I have a dear friend who--I am godfather to her oldest child--has a very physically demanding job as a dialysis nurse, which involves a lot of helping patients around. She got COVID, and both fatigue and balance issues are so challenging that she is not able to do the work.

I had a State employee who worked in my department of transportation who saw me on a bike ride by his house one day in Richmond, where I live, and he flagged me down and stopped me. He said: Hey, look, I was your employee when you were Governor working with the department of transportation. I am a young dad. I have two boys under age 10. I want to be a great father for them, but I got COVID, and now my long COVID symptoms are so significant, I can't play baseball with them.

He can't do the kinds of things that a dad wants to do with his children. This individual is now on long-term disability, unable to work at all.

These are very, very serious stories.

The public health emergency around COVID is likely to come to an end on May 11, but we can't forget millions of people who are dealing with this issue.

Now, let me just share some statistics. Across the United States, adult women are more likely than men to experience long COVID. Individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino experience long COVID more than any other racial or ethnic group. People with disabilities are more likely to experience long COVID than those without disabilities.

Long COVID is not limited to people like me. I just turned 65. A lot of young people are dealing with long COVID symptoms. Their initial COVID presented differently than it did with most adults, but some of the long COVID symptoms are those I have described. Twenty-five percent of people who have long COVID say that their symptoms significantly limit their activity.

The economic cost of long COVID disability is upward of $200 billion a year. Up to 4 million people are out of the American workforce right now because of long COVID, at a time when I know all of us are hearing from our employers: I can't hire people. It is so hard to hire people now.

The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 1969. If there are things we could do that could help those 4 million come back into the workforce, it would be good not only for them, for their happiness, for their pocketbooks; it would be great for our economy.

To better understand the impact of long COVID, in January, I worked together with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to gather patients and providers from Virginia and State and Federal officials from everywhere to come to a summit in Richmond to talk about long COVID. The conversations that day allowed us to, nearly 3 years in, dig into long COVID and what are its impacts and, most importantly, what can we do. We were able to discuss experiences, share best practices and research.

I was honored to have four Virginians with long COVID who joined me in discussing their own journeys.

Cynthia talked about having unusual symptoms and not being believed initially that she even had COVID and then not being believed that she had long COVID. Her symptoms were more in the allergic reaction space, similar to mine. In fact, she went multiple times to emergency rooms because her symptoms were so intense and found that, without telling her, she was often being drug-tested because they assumed that she was there and maybe she was suffering from some kind of a drug overdose. So they were testing her for that and not believing her long COVID story.

She has since found healthcare professionals who believe her and are offering her treatments that have not ended her long COVID symptoms but are enabling her to more effectively negotiate her schedule.

Mattie from Southwest Virginia was kind of your quintessential do- everything, 35-year-old mom of three, who also worked, who also went to school. She could juggle everything and make it seem easy. When she got COVID, she got hit with fatigue so intense she couldn't do any of those things, and then that spiraled into depression. She was a healthcare provider herself, working with seniors, and really started to question, What kind of purpose do I have if I can't be the mom I want to be, if I can't be the healthcare provider I want to be? It caused tremendous anxiety and depression.

Now, Mattie's was a story of hope because she eventually found a physician who realized COVID had exacerbated an underlying medical condition called Hashimoto's disease that she had had probably since birth but had never really been serious enough to notice. COVID exacerbated it. She is being treated for Hashimoto's, and many of those symptoms have abated. So hers is a story of hope. This is not a hopelessness story. You can find paths forward. She is doing better.

ZZ and Katy. ZZ is a middle schooler who had serious long COVID experiences, and Katy talked about trying to help her son and not being believed until they finally found their way to the Children's National Hospital, just up the hill from where we are.

Finally, Rachel--a longtime human resources professional at a community college in Virginia--used to working with people, including people with disabilities, to help them either get jobs or do coursework at the local community college. Her long COVID experience was so debilitating in fatigue and migraine headaches and other problems with respect to focus that she eventually had to leave her job and apply for long-term disability and her Social Security.

She was told when she applied that there were more than half a million applications before hers, and after a year, she was turned down with little explanation. She described the challenges of trying to negotiate the system and fill out forms when she is suffering from such fatigue and headaches and other symptoms that make even filling out a form difficult.

So these four stories were a mixture of young people and adults, some stories that didn't yet have happy endings and at least one that did have a positive ending, and it was important that we understand them.

Congress has taken some steps. I have colleagues in the room, and I just want to thank them for this. We provided $1.15 billion in Federal funding to the National Institutes of Health to advance understanding, prevention, and treatment. In December, Congress passed a budget that included $10 million for this Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to do critical research. These efforts are a step in the right direction, but more must be done.

Just last week, the President introduced the fiscal year 2024 budget. He requested additional funding for AHRQ and additional funding for the HSRA to do long COVID.

Today, I am reintroducing a bill, the CARE for Long COVID Act, with Senators Markey and Duckworth and eight other Senators. It is also being introduced in a bipartisan way on the House side. The bill will expand research to increase understanding of treatment efficacy and disparities and provide more recommendations, educate long COVID patients and health providers, facilitate interagency cooperation, and develop partnerships between community-based organizations, social services, and others.

But there is more work to be done, so as I conclude--I see my colleague from Louisiana on the floor waiting to

speak--we just have to keep focused on this to try to address this challenge. When the public health emergency ends, we can't forget those who are dealing with long COVID, and we can't forget those who are dealing with the significant amount of mental anxiety and stress that has been present in the lives of all for the last 3 years. We have to improve our outreach and education, we have to accelerate our research to come up with treatments and cures that work, and we have to do it with a sense of urgency. I am committed to working with you all to do that.

Madam President, this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely on the GW Forest.

In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left undisturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in deciding which lands are best suited to which purposes.

In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George

Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, ultimately succeeded and made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvesting and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of GW Forest in Bath County. Everyone got some of what they wanted, and everyone gave some ground.

The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,600 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to once again partner with Senator Mark Warner and follow the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am also proud that this bill has passed the Senate in previous Congresses, including by unanimous consent. I will be pushing to include this bill as part of the 2023 farm bill, and I hope that we can bring this effort to the finish line soon.

Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the environment and good for the economy. Land disputes may often be contentious, but these efforts in the GW Forest show they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to support this bill.

Madam President, this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely on the GW Forest.

In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left undisturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in deciding which lands are best suited to which purposes.

In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George

Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, ultimately succeeded and made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvesting and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of GW Forest in Bath County. Everyone got some of what they wanted, and everyone gave some ground.

The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,600 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to once again partner with Senator Mark Warner and follow the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am also proud that this bill has passed the Senate in previous Congresses, including by unanimous consent. I will be pushing to include this bill as part of the 2023 farm bill, and I hope that we can bring this effort to the finish line soon.

Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the environment and good for the economy. Land disputes may often be contentious, but these efforts in the GW Forest show they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to support this bill.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I rise today in support of Magistrate Judge Robert Ballou of Virginia, nominee to be U.S. district judge for the Western District of Virginia. In about 10 minutes, we will move into a cloture vote to advance his nomination, and I am proud to stand in support of this great jurist.

Judge Ballou has deep and abiding ties to the Commonwealth. He was born in Roanoke, VA, just like my wife, and he graduated from the University of Virginia and then from UVA Law School.

Other than a judicial clerkship for the late Judge Peter Beer on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Judge Ballou has spent his entire 35-year legal career in Virginia. Following that clerkship, Judge Ballou worked in private practice in both Richmond and Roanoke from 1988 through 2011. He built a successful civil litigation practice, and he regularly appeared in State and Federal courts.

Judge Ballou became a U.S. magistrate judge for the Western District of Virginia in 2011. Madam President is a lawyer and, I know, understands the role that magistrates play in the Federal court system. First, they usually have to go through a fairly rigorous application process where they are chosen by the sitting article 3 judges in the court to serve in the magistrate's role. And, second, once they are on, they have a wide variety of responsibilities in criminal procedure, in pretrial practice in civil cases, in mediations to try to help litigants find a path forward without the need for trials.

Judge Ballou is extremely well-regarded for his 12-year service as a magistrate judge. And one of the things that being a magistrate gets you is it gets you the opportunity to be before so many litigants and practitioners in the court--in this case, the Western District of Virginia--that, when you are up for consideration for a judgeship, there are a whole lot of reviews out there about whether or not you have got the judicial temperament, the work ethic, the fairness to be a good article 3 judge.

In over a decade as a magistrate, Judge Ballou has developed a sterling reputation on the bench. He is well-known. He is respected in the Western District of Virginia for running his courtroom in a fair and efficient manner while ensuring that all parties, even low-income people who might be unrepresented--often there are pro se cases before Federal courts--all parties are respected and heard.

The American Bar Association unanimously granted to Judge Ballou its highest rating of ``Well Qualified'' for this nomination.

Judge Ballou enjoys broad and deep support across the Virginia legal community. For example, former U.S. attorneys for the Western District of Virginia, who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations for the last 20 years, wrote that Judge Ballou ``enjoys the highest reputation in the legal community for his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and preparation. Judge Ballou has consistently displayed the temperament, character and work ethic necessary to make an outstanding judge.''

The observation is echoed in the letters of support from civil and criminal attorneys practicing in the Western District of Virginia, representing a wide range of litigants.

One other thing that I just want to say about Judge Ballou that impressed me: This is the second time that Senator Warner and I, following a process that we use where we pull together lawyers from the district to interview candidates--it is the second time we have recommended him to the White House for a nomination to be an article 3 judge.

The first time, the White House went a different direction. Sometimes that happens, and people say: OK, well, I am not interested anymore.

I give credit to Judge Ballou that, after we recommended him--and you recommend multiple candidates, and not everybody gets it--he hung in there. That has been the case with some of the other nominees that Senator Warner and I have recommended. The ones that hang in there and who eventually get to the bench do a great job, and I am absolutely convinced that Judge Ballou, who received wide bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee when he was up before the committee--I am absolutely confident he is going to do a great job in this position.

I urge my colleagues to confirm him.

With that, Madam President, I yield the floor.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, today I am introducing the Military Spouse Hiring Act with my colleagues Senators Boozman, Hassan, Rounds, and 17 of our colleagues. Enacting this bill would improve financial stability for Blue Star families across the country.

The families of America's servicemembers make sacrifices that often go unrecognized. Among them is packing up and moving frequently, with military spouses regularly having to leave stable employment to move to a new area and start over. This is compounded by the complex system of State licensing and certification requirements, which can prevent these spouses from taking jobs that utilize their expertise and experience. Because of this, military spouses have unemployment rates substantially higher than the national average, and they are often underemployed when they do have jobs. Adding to the financial struggles caused by frequent periods of unemployment and underemployment, the rising cost of childcare puts a substantial burden on many military families.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act would help these families by making military spouses an eligible population for the work opportunity tax credit. This tax credit has proven effective in improving employment prospects for other groups. Extending it to military spouses would help them find employment more easily after moving to new areas.

I hope my colleagues will support this bill to help families who have made the greatest sacrifice for our Nation.

Madam President, today I am introducing the Military Spouse Hiring Act with my colleagues Senators Boozman, Hassan, Rounds, and 17 of our colleagues. Enacting this bill would improve financial stability for Blue Star families across the country.

The families of America's servicemembers make sacrifices that often go unrecognized. Among them is packing up and moving frequently, with military spouses regularly having to leave stable employment to move to a new area and start over. This is compounded by the complex system of State licensing and certification requirements, which can prevent these spouses from taking jobs that utilize their expertise and experience. Because of this, military spouses have unemployment rates substantially higher than the national average, and they are often underemployed when they do have jobs. Adding to the financial struggles caused by frequent periods of unemployment and underemployment, the rising cost of childcare puts a substantial burden on many military families.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act would help these families by making military spouses an eligible population for the work opportunity tax credit. This tax credit has proven effective in improving employment prospects for other groups. Extending it to military spouses would help them find employment more easily after moving to new areas.

I hope my colleagues will support this bill to help families who have made the greatest sacrifice for our Nation.

Madam President, I rise in support of Jamar Walker, who has been nominated as U.S. district court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division. We will be voting in a few minutes on Mr. Walker's nomination. He is an assistant U.S. attorney for the EDVA, where he currently serves as the Acting Chief for the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit.

Mr. Walker was raised by a single mother on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where he attended public schools, graduating from Nandua High School in Accomack County, VA. He is a double graduate of the University of Virginia and clerked for Judge Raymond Jackson, whose seat he has been nominated to fill in a particularly nice turn of events. Mr. Walker counts Judge Jackson as among his mentors who inspired in him not just a life of service but also a deep commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

Following his clerkship, Mr. Walker worked first as an associate at Covington & Burling, where he actually was an associate for one of my best friends, the head of the litigation section there, John Hall, who speaks very highly of Jamar Walker. Then he joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Given his deep history with the EDVA, it will come as no surprise that Mr. Walker has broad support in this very important court, starting with Judge Jackson. In his letter of support, Judge Jackson observes that Mr. Walker ``has the intellectual prowess, integrity, and temperament that is fundamental in the position of a Federal judge.'' Former U.S. attorneys in the Eastern District Dana Boente and Zach Terwilliger note that Mr. Walker ``is a person of unimpeachable character who is known by the bench and bar for his keen intellect, decency, sober judgment, and humility.''

As you can see, Mr. Walker would be serving the same community that raised him, where he has deep ties and is widely respected. For these reasons, Jamar Walker received a ``well qualified'' rating from the American Bar Association.

His nomination is also historic in that, once confirmed and sworn in, Mr. Walker will be the first openly LGBTQ Federal district judge in Virginia.

I practiced in this court for 17 years. It is justifiably called the rocket docket because it has one of the fastest times from filing a case to trial of any district in the United States--6 months from filing a case to trial. Such speed is tough on the judges, and it is tough on the lawyers, but the EDVA does it because, for the litigants, the ability to know that they will have their claim heard within 6 months is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

The EDVA is also a little bit unique because its proximity to the Pentagon and the CIA and Federal Government Agencies gives it a docket that has a high percentage of national security cases. Mr. Walker's experience in and knowledge of the EDVA and his work on cases of that kind will be very critical to his success once he is confirmed.

In short, this is an exceptional nominee and historymaker who is well qualified to serve on a most unique court. He received a strongly bipartisan vote in the Judiciary Committee. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of his nomination.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam President, I have one request for a committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for the first reading.

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess until 8:20 p.m. today and proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the joint session of Congress provided under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 11; that upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 9; that following the prayer and

pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Benjamin nomination; that at 11 a.m., all remaining postcloture time on the nomination be considered expired; that following disposition of the Benjamin nomination, the Senate resume consideration of the Chung nomination; that the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, we will gather in the Senate Chamber at 8:20 p.m. to proceed as a body to the House for the State of the Union.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it recess under the previous order.

Mr. President, January 27, 2023, marks the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Argentina. In 1823, President James Monroe named Caesar Rodney of Delaware as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata.

The longstanding friendship between our two countries is underpinned by the strong cultural and familial ties which unite our peoples. The relationship is further enriched by the many unique contributions of Argentinians to the United States. Both countries are democracies, working continuously to strengthen our institutions and political inclusion.

Argentina provides crucial contributions to hemispheric security and stability, including counterterrorism, defense, and law enforcement cooperation. It is a valued partner for the United States in tackling the climate crisis and global health challenges and serves as an example for the region and the world in supporting expanded economic prosperity and equality, including for women and disadvantaged populations.

Argentina is further admired for its leadership in promoting human rights and the dignity of all people, including of LGBTQI+ persons. Both the United States and Argentina are dedicated to maintaining a strong middle class and the importance of independent unions and labor rights. We are together increasing mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples through educational exchanges including our binational Fulbright Commission.

Argentina remains a trusted and desirable destination for world-class tourism and for trade opportunities with the United States and is recognized for being a leader in sports through the example set by its FIFA World Cup champions. Argentina's three World Cup victories have inspired generations of athletes.

Argentina's cultural, economic, and political contributions to the region and to the world are invaluable. We must continue to build towards an ever stronger relationship between Argentina and the United States.